This is a discussion on I didn't get a wrx... within the New Member Hangout forums, part of the Community - Meet other Enthusiasts category; Hi guys, I made a few posts a while back with some questions about the WRX. Due to the unavailability ...

I didn't get a wrx...

Hi guys, I made a few posts a while back with some questions about the WRX. Due to the unavailability and other reasons, I decided it wasn't possible for me to get a WRX within my price range. I contacted almost every single dealerships in the state and they'd either have STIs or loaded Preimum/Limited models. The dealerships that had the ones I was interested in were pretty much jerks so I decided to look at another brand. Here's what I got:

I have never driven a RWD nor anything over 220ish hp so this is a BIG step up for me. Not trying to start any flames wars but I would definitely recommend it if you don't need AWD or a sedan. I was skeptical at first because I know there are a lot of mustang owners and one of the reasons why I wanted a Subaru is because how rare it is in my area. But the car looks WAY better in person. I actually wanted to change the wheels but I really think it matches the car perfectly. Also I was a little worried about the issues some people have been having with the manual transmission in the '11 and '12 mustangs. So far none.

I never knew there was a difference between Polishing vs Waxing but Zaino is non-abrasive polishing materials so it works out perfectly! Right now the only problem is getting used to the manual transmission...I am having a hard time shifting smoothly...this car is def a monster.

Anyway, I hope I can still a part of this Subaru community
I was really looking forward to giving thumbs up or waving at other Subaru owners, back when I thought I was getting a Subaru.

Congrats on the purchase! I could tell you about my 2006 Mustang GT, but I don't want to come off as uber negative towards the Mustang platform and Ford since I have a hate-hate relationship with Ford in general. Let's just say I am so happy to be out of my 2006 Mustang GT and into a 2012 Subaru WRX.

In all seriousness, if you want to know the corners Ford cut and what problems you may encounter, send me a PM because many of the issues still exist even though Ford tweaked the S197 platform. They aren't that bad or that expensive, but I can tell you what to look out for.

The first mods for your car that I would recommend would be to replace your rear lower control arms, rear upper control arm, and install a Fays2 Watts link. The next series of mods should be front k-member, a-arms, and strut mounts. That about covers all the weak points on the car where Ford cut corners to keep it at a lower price point and those mods will significantly improve handling. Only after addressing those issues should you consider a cold air intake and a tune since they assist in getting the power to the ground.

Word of caution on the cold air intake and tune. Ford sent out a TSB basically telling the dealership to look for signs of ECU access regarding warranty repairs. Basically, if they reasonably suspect that you tuned the car, you may have a fight regarding any warranty work if the engine pops or the transmission goes.

Congrats on the purchase! I could tell you about my 2006 Mustang GT, but I don't want to come off as uber negative towards the Mustang platform and Ford since I have a hate-hate relationship with Ford in general. Let's just say I am so happy to be out of my 2006 Mustang GT and into a 2012 Subaru WRX.

In all seriousness, if you want to know the corners Ford cut and what problems you may encounter, send me a PM because many of the issues still exist even though Ford tweaked the S197 platform. They aren't that bad or that expensive, but I can tell you what to look out for.

The first mods for your car that I would recommend would be to replace your rear lower control arms, rear upper control arm, and install a Fays2 Watts link. The next series of mods should be front k-member, a-arms, and strut mounts. That about covers all the weak points on the car where Ford cut corners to keep it at a lower price point and those mods will significantly improve handling. Only after addressing those issues should you consider a cold air intake and a tune since they assist in getting the power to the ground.

Word of caution on the cold air intake and tune. Ford sent out a TSB basically telling the dealership to look for signs of ECU access regarding warranty repairs. Basically, if they reasonably suspect that you tuned the car, you may have a fight regarding any warranty work if the engine pops or the transmission goes.

Sorry, went off on a tangent, and I hope I wasn't too negative...

No!! I really appreciate your insight...this is just my DD. Do you think those mods really be necessary? Do they void the warranty and how much?

I actually did think about getting a 87 tune because I heard it has many benefits but didn't want to void the warranty. At least for now, I don't feel the need to increase hp. My understanding is until the engine is properly broken, you'll get about 350ish hp (I forgot how much torque) and after 1-2k miles and with good gas, it'll reach its full potential. So far I have less than 400 miles...I can't imagine having 50+ more hp lol.

No!! I really appreciate your insight...this is just my DD. Do you think those mods really be necessary? Do they void the warranty and how much?

Necessary, no BUT as the factory parts fail over time when your warranty is up, I'd suggest replacing the flimsy factory pieces with the stronger and lighter aftermarket pieces that are available. The thing I like about the watts link is it was more predictable than the panhard bar when it came to re-centering the rear axle in turns and curves. I won't say it improved the ride though because there was a complete Ford Racing suspension that on the vehicle when I purchased it used in October 2007.

Speaking of Ford Racing, those are parts that you CAN have dealer installed on your car and NOT void your warranty. So that is something else to consider.

vBulletin Message

Errors

The following errors occurred with your submission

Quick Reply

Register Now

Please enter the name by which you would like to log-in and be known on this site.If you do not want to register, fill this field only and the name will be used as user name for your post.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Email Address:

Please enter a valid email address for yourself. We strongly suggest that you stay away from using aol, yahoo, msn, and hotmail accounts. Sometimes the mail server blocks the emails from our server. As a result you will not receive any notifications including the confirmation email.

Log-in

User Name:

Password:

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.